22 February 2016

Cyclone Winston: children react to the devastation

Communities across Fiji have been devastated by the strongest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere and children will be among those hardest hit. Tropical Cyclone Winston has flattened entire villages with wind gusts in excess of 320 km/h and devastating storm surges and rains.

UNICEF has begun assisting those most affected. There are an estimated 400,000 people, including around 165,000 children, affected by the cyclone. Thousands of homes have been damaged. Hospitals, schools and water supplies have been hit hard, while damage to crops and livestock has cut off families’ food and livelihoods.

Some young Fijians share early accounts of the aftermath after a terrifying night sheltering from Cyclone Winston.Aaron Lipua, 9

“I was scared. I thought the roof would fly away but I thank the Lord. It was terrifying. [During the storm] we told stories, played cards and board games with my mum, my dad, brothers and sister.”

Angelina Cheer, 5

“My father and my brother needed to climb up the roof because the big square thing on top broke and we were worried about the roof flying away. It was a little bit scary for me. When the power was off we light our candles.”

Bella Leqa, 6

“I turned the candles on, I was waiting for the hurricane. The hurricane was coming and the house was shaking and the windows were breaking and the shutter fell.”

Isaiah Leqa, 10

“It was a strong wind, it blew some covers away. That’s how strong it was. My mum said ‘oh this wind is so strong it’ll blow the roof off our house. I’d tell other kids to be prepared ‘cos if a cyclone comes it can maybe blow off their roofs and when they wake up maybe their roofs are gone.”

UNICEF in action

There’s no time to waste. Yesterday, UNICEF already packed and shipped essential emergency supplies, including water purification tablets and sanitation supplies, for immediate shipment to Koro and Ovalau Islands. Follow UNICEF Pacific for updates along the way.

Fiji has suffered incalculable losses from this awful tragedy and UNICEF is in place to assess, respond and help Fiji recover.